God is Speaking

Have you ever had a Scripture jump off the page right into your heart? I’m sure you have! In theological terms, we refer to those times as “Kairos” moments. A “now word” from God. A word in time. A word from the throne, a promise for whatever you’re experiencing at a precise moment in time. During this pandemic, I believe God wants to give a “now word” to keep His people in check.

Recently, Matthew 8:8 spoke powerfully to me: ”And when Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, imploring Him, and saying, ‘Lord my servant is lying paralyzed at home, fully tormented.’ Jesus said to him, ‘I will come and heal him.’ But the centurion said,, ‘Lord, I am not worthy for you to come under my roof, but just say the word and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, ‘Go, and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.’”

“Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those who were following, ‘Truly I say to you, I have not found such greater faith with anyone in Israel’....And the man was healed that very moment.” (Matthew 8:5-10, 13).

When God speaks, things happen! Four words invaded my spirit when I read this passage. I too marveled at the centurion’s faith -- “Just say the word…” My faith was elevated when I was reminded that God is still speaking today in the middle of this Coronavirus pandemic. Like you, I need all of heaven’s encouragement I can get!

“Just speak the word…” This same God, who spoke the worlds into existence during creation, still speaks today. His creative Word formed the sun, moon stars and everything else we see. In Genesis 1, we read nine times where “God spoke.” And every time He spoke, He formed something out of nothing.

I love what the centurion said: “Just speak the word…” He evidently had seen Jesus speak other miracles into being. The spoken word in that very moment healed the centurion’s servant! This same God wants to speak into our lives today.

You too may need healing. You may wonder how you’re going to fare financially. The needs are incredible at a time like this. I need the Lord to speak into the uncertainties of my life. I want to be like Samuel, who while being mentored by the High Priest, Eli, said, “Speak Lord, your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:10).

This is a world-wide pandemic.  I believe God is speaking to responsive hearts all over the earth. Just as the Holy Spirit hovered at creation, so God is hovering over the earth, waiting with great anticipation to speak to those who fear Him. The nations seem to be reeling under fear and great anxiety.  Governments remain uncertain regarding right decisions. But God is speaking. Daniel’s God is still on the throne of the universe. Daniel, an obscure man in Nebuchadnezzar’s court, was raised up to speak to the nations, and I believe God is still raising up accurate prophetic voices to guide today’s dilemma.  

But understand something.  You too can hear from God. He’s speaking to the world, to nations, to states, to communities, and TO YOU!  Just as Jesus commanded turbulent waters to calm, he desires to speak peace into our individual lives during this time of turbulence.  We have never navigated the present troubled waters -- no one has! We’re all in the same boat! And we need Jesus to speak peace. He spoke healing over the centurion’s servant and He spoke peace over the panicky disciples, and He wants to speak peace, provision, or whatever into your life today.  Ask Him!

Coupled with Matthew 8:8, the Lord alo spoke Isaiah 30:15 into my spirit.  This was a “now Word” for me, and I want to pass it along to you. “For thus the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has said, ‘In repentance and rest,  you will be saved, in quietness and trust is your strength…” During Israel’s turbulent days, the prophet addressed the nation as a whole, but also directed his remarks to individuals. 

Pandemic storms may rage, but we as followers of Jesus Christ are promised peace in the midst of tumult.  He wants to give every believer -- that means YOU -- a “now Word,” one that will hold you steady during these uncertain times.

Our medical profession has asked us to practice social distancing.  When in groups less than ten, to practice the “six-feet rule.” Crowds of more than ten are strongly urged not to gather.  I can’t help but feel God is using these dynamics to draw us away from others into His presence. The Lord is asking for an audience of one!  God wants to give YOU a “now Word.” You need one! He’s still speaking and He has a message crafted specifically for you!  

I appreciate what our government is doing, and I pray earnestly for our President and the many other front-liners, so I beg you, don’t waste your time wasting time!

Use this interruption to get before the Lord .  Open His Word with a humble, searching heart. Like Isaiah suggested, “Seek repentance and rest.” You will be saved (from external stimuli) that threatens your peace.  Cultivate a daily quiet time with the Lord and place your trust in Him. He wants to keep you strong!

Listen intently and honestly as you search the Scriptures.  What is the Lord asking you to change in your life? Do you continue to harbor secret sins?   Have you grown complacent in your Christian life and service? What attitudes have you fostered that are counterproductive to your spiritual well being?  Are you angry? Is there someone you need to forgive? Do you struggle with sexual lust? The Lord wants to speak specifically to you! He will lovingly confront you, convict you, and by His grace show you a better way!  Isn’t He wonderful?

During this pandemic, I remain committed to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.  I remain “confident of this one thing -- that “He who began a good work in me (over 49 years ago), will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6). 

God is speaking.  Listen!  

Who's to Blame?

Job is perhaps the Bible’s premiere example of suffering.  His story provides partial revelation to the age-old question, “Why do bad things happen to good people?”

Following his loss of income, transportation, ten children, health, and presumably his wife’s affections, Job summarizes his catastrophic situation by saying, “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away.  Blessed be the name of the Lord” (1:21b).  Job momentarily contributed his losses to God’s dealings in his life. 

I personally believe this was Job’s grief talking.  It was not totally accurate, but it was his truth in that moment.  In the very next verse it says, “Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.”  In other words, it appears that Job came to a righteous resolve and grieved appropriately.  It appears he shifted the blame for his traumatic circumstances away from God. 

As I write, fires in California continue to incinerate thousands of acres and many homes have been destroyed.  Mandatory evacuations have displaced entire communities.  Meanwhile, on the East coast storms have wreaked havoc with fallen trees and broken power lines causing widespread power outages.

Throughout 2019 our beloved Texas has endured record-breaking floods.  Hundreds have been displaced because of high water.  At times, nature is a fierce contender.

The insurance industry refers to such events as “acts of God.”  However, we may need to re-think this position.  Sadly, God gets blamed for what the “prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2) initiates.  The real blame needs to be placed on “the god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4).  Little “g.”

I meet people on a regular basis who ask me, “Why did God do this?  Is He mad at me?”  It doesn’t help when obscure radio preachers say things like, “God is judging California and Texas for their many sins.”  In other words, according to their misguided teaching, God is signaling out California and Texas and making examples out of them.

NO WAY!  God, in His righteous judgment does not “pick and choose.”  God does not put sin on a continuum, or grade on a curve.  He does not say, “Ohio is better than the other two states.”  Ridiculous!  If what’s happened in California and Texas is God’s judgment, then, God is a cruel judge.  And we know that God loves all people equally.  Let’s put the blame for natural disasters, tragedies and human loss where it belongs:  The devil.  He is the arch enemy of God and hates His creation, many times using natural calamities to attack what he hates and to discourage God’s people, hopefully causing them to doubt God’s love.

Yes, God hates sin; and yes, people make decisions that go against God’s righteous plans, bringing pain and heartache into their lives.  But God comes alongside all of us during times of crisis to bring comfort and provision; and even reversing situations – like he did for Job.

My friend Paula inspires me.  She has a good handle on tragedy and where the real blame lies.  Paula has suffered the loss of her husband after 50-plus years of marriage, the deaths of two sons, and the death of a granddaughter.  Her 21-year-old son died in a car accident.  Her 50-year-old son died from complications of diabetes.  And her 18-year-old granddaughter died of Multiple Sclerosis (MS).   Three of Paula’s five sons were deaf from birth.  Yet, this woman carries no bitterness toward God.

As a child Paula was told constantly by her father, “I hate you.”  Regular beatings were given to punish her for not being a boy.  She grew up feeling unloved and unwanted.  Yet, in her father’s dying days she cared for him.  Forgiveness flowed between the two of them. 

“My loved ones are better off in a better place,” she said.  “God knows best.”  I fought back tears as Paula told her story.  She is no stranger to suffering and loss, as she too suffers from the ravages of MS.  She displays a faith-filled smile.  She affirms that earth has no pain that heaven cannot heal. 

My friend, let’s put the blame where it belongs – the enemy of our soul. His job description is clearly stated: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy” (John10:10). 

Discouraged ones let’s not blame God when life brings us difficult days.   Instead let’s worship Him even when we don’t understand.  Worship is the antidote to hard times and overwhelming circumstances.  Like Job of Old Testament fame, let’s affirm, “As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will take His stand on the earth” (Job 19:25).

Finally, I love what Charles Hadden Spurgeon wrote many years ago: “God is too good to be unkind and He is too wise to be mistaken. And when we cannot trace His hand, we must trust His heart.”